Unlike last week at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, Wisconsin didn't have 18,000 red-clad backers roaring in support every move made by Bo Ryan's players.

UW, which had won big games away from home all season, didn't need the home-court feel.

The No. 2-seeded Badgers turned the Honda Center into their home floor and made sixth-seeded Baylor look like an NIT team with perhaps their most impressive all-around performance of the season.

The result was a 69-52 victory Thursday night that sent UW to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

Ryan, whose record is now 703-223, is again one victory from his first Final Four at UW.

UW (29-7) faces either top-seeded Arizona (32-4) or No. 4-seeded San Diego State (3-14) Saturday for a berth in the Final Four. The starting time is to be determined.

Baylor, which reached the Elite Eight in 2010 and 2012, finished 26-12.

"Well, I think over 700 wins speaks for itself," Baylor coach Scott Drew said before the game in talking about Ryan's longevity. "Thirteen straight NCAA tournament appearances at Wisconsin speaks for itself.

"Whenever I hear the word Wisconsin basketball — I'm good friends with Tony Bennett and Dick Bennett — I think it's one of those elite programs and you think of it as a team each and every year that's competing for Final Fours and National Championship....

"I understand what great basketball they've had and what a great job coach Ryan has done."

Ryan and his staff had UW well-schooled to take advantage of Baylor's weaknesses and UW improved to 15-5 away from home this season, including 7-1 in neutral site games.

The Badgers dissected Baylor's zone from the start and Drew eventually surrendered and went to a man-to-man defense in the second half.

Led by junior center Frank Kaminsky, UW attacked the lane at will. Kaminsky scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the first half to help UW build a 29-16 lead.

Kaminsky added six blocks and four rebounds and outplayed Baylor center Isaiah Austin.

"You look at our roster, down the line every guy that's out there on the floor is a threat to dribble, pass and shoot," Brust said before the game. "So that's nice to have out there and to know that when you're going through warm-ups, if you look around, you never know which guy's day it could be."